Early Spring Reading.

Steven

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The early spring sun beat down on the island, much to Steven's annoyance. The sign in the air that it was going to get hotter and hotter in the months to come, and while Steven could cool himself off to some extent with his powers he didn't take much pleasure in doing so. It was the early afternoon, so at least the sun wasn't as high in the sky as it could have been a couple hours earlier but it certainly made the walk from his dorm to downtown worse then it could have been in his mind.

As one month ended and another began, it meant that Steven had finally got a little bit of money again and as normal it was likely going to be spent on stuff he shouldn't buy... More books. Between his insatiable habit of reading and his multitude of mundane addictions, most of his money was spent on stuff that wasn't really essential. That didn't stop him as he pushed open the door to the small book shop.

A traditional doorbell rang out as the door opened and swung closed slowly behind Steven and he started to explore. A little while later, Steven had a small pile of books balanced badly on one arm as he reached out with his other hand to grab yet another book. However as he did, he lost balance of the books on his arm and lurched forward. Swing his second arm back to try and catch himself, he failed as he collided into someone the books going tumbling to the floor.
 

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Aodh had had a pretty great day, for once. He had completely forgotten the ridiculousness that had been the portal last night and the day at work had been great because a dog had delivered puppies. Two headed dog and two headed puppies but it made it that much more fun.
Now Aodh was walking along the street, his head attached and Dulla trotting alongside him. Once in a while he petted her absently and she sent a small thanks every time. She also reported everything she saw on the street and Aodh didn't basically have to look at all.
Aodh walked past a small bookstore and when he glanced at it he saw an interesting book on the window. He stopped, and asked Dulla if he could go in for a minute.
"Why are ye askin' me for? Go already!"
"Okay, fine, jeesh."
Althought Aodh said it out loud no one seemed to notice.
Aodh stepped inside and the little dim lighting inside made him feel at home. He started skimming the shelves and once in a while took his head off to look at something far up or really close.
He had just taken his head off once more when someone collided with him.
Aodh stumbled and fell down on the floor. And his head fell from his hand and rolled farther away. Damn, it hurt.
"Ouch! Son of a-"
Aodh mumbled, his mouth full of dust from the floor. He looked over where his body was and saw the one who had collided with him. The clutch had been carrying a mountain of books.
"Wotch where yer goin'!"
Aodh said, or shouted, because his head was some ways away from his body. Aodh brought his body to pick his head up and then started to help the man pick up his books.

@Steven
 

Steven

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"Damn" muttered under his breath as he crouched down to start to pull up the book. Only to glance up fron the floor in time to see the person they had hit move away and bend down to grab something of their own. Steven's eyes widen when he saw what it was, but he clenched his teeth down hard and resisted the habit to shout in panic. Living your whole life with the strange? Kind of meant that certain things could take you by surprise.

"Thank you." He instead said once he had composed himself looking at the man. "I'm sorry about that. I'm a bit of fool when it come to literary pursuits." He added, taking the last of the books of him once they had picked them up and spent a littlet time making sure they were balanced much better then they had been.
 

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Aodh had attached his head before turning to help the man but he had seen how his eyes had widened when he had seen Aodh's severed head. Well, it was a normal reaction. Especially since this guy looked pretty normal.
"Yer welcome, ain't nothin' to it. I get it."
Aodh straightened and dusted his hair and clothes and watched how the man tried to balance his books again. Had he learned nothing? Aodh sighed a bit and took half of the books to himself.
"Lemme help ye with these. Yer a walkin' hazard otherwoise."
Aodh noticed the book on top of the pile, it was a good one. Aodh dabbled a bit in "literary pursuits" himself, after all.
"This is a good one."
Aodh mentioned absently, forgetting he wasn't talking to Dulla.
 

Steven

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Once Steven's initial shock at the man, reattaching his head passed, he was glad when they took some of the books and offered to help carry them. "Thanks again." Steven replied, mentally noting the mans accent but not quite placing it. Heading towards the counter, Steven heard the other man comment on the book, and not realising it wasn't really directed at him spoke again. "Well then, I'll look forward to reading it." He said as they reached the line to pay.

The queue wasn't long but they probably had a minute or two before he would get to pay. So he turned to look at the man. "I'm Rosett by the way. Steven Rosett. Nice to meet you." Steven introduced himself politely.
 

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Aodh realized who he was talking to when the man answered him and he felt a bit mortified and embarrassed. It wasn't like him making chitchat with a stranger. But somehow it felt, well, nice to talk to someone else besides his dog.
"The story itself is pretty borin' but the endin' is somethin' to look forward to. But I ain't gon' spoil."
Aodh flinched just a tiny bit when the man turned to him on the queue and introduced himself as Steven Rosett. I mean, it must've been normal since they were kinda acquainted now. So Aodh nodded and introduced himself as well.
"Um, I'm Aodh. Aodh Driscoll. Look, um, sorry if me head spooked yer. I'm a dullahan, ye see. As in the headless horseman. Or in me case dogman."
Aodh, wondering why the hell he was blabbing so much, gestured to Dulla who was staring in from the window, very visible and panting happily.
"Wow Aodh, could ye be any more awkward, lad?"
"Shut yer mouth Dulla."
 

Steven

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Steven smiled at Aodh, as he introduced himself in return. While also apologising if he had shocked him. "Don't worry about it, I should be used to it by now. Now i know it really doesn't bother me." Steven tried to reassure Aodh that the scare was nothing to worry about. "Interesting, I've heard of Dullahan in fiction but never one that had anything but a horse. I think you got a good deal though, loyalty is a great trait and dogs are known for their loyalty after all." Steven gave a wave to the excited looking dog briefly before looking back to Aodh.

"But man is he big. Actually are they a boy or a girl before I just keep assuming?" Steven asked Aodh, looking back to Dulla again with a smile. He liked animals, but he had a feeling, playing with that dog would end up with the person playing with them exhausted rather then dog.
 

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Aodh could appreciate a person who appreciated dogs. Aodh smiled back at Steven lopsidedly.
"Horses were traditional but I always thought I'd rather be with me dog for the rest of me life. Well, afterwards I found out she was a pest."
Aodh sent those same words mentally to Dulla and he immediately got an answer from Dulla.
"Now ye at least ye know how it felt like to live with ye for many years. An' I couldn' even poke at ye."
Aodh sent a friendly glare at Dulla.

"Don' worry, mighty many think of her as male. She doesn' look that feminine, after all. But yeh, Dulla is a female. An' she is big because she's my guardian."
Aodh stepped one step forward as the queue shortened. After couple more people would be their turn.
 
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